the whole sad chapter
1 - Now at that time Herod [Agrippa I] the king of Israel under Rome, arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to harm them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. [John wrote one of the four gospels, three letters and the Book of Revelation letter. Jesus called the brothers “sons of thunder”.] 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the leaders, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Peter was to be put on trial, he was asleep and bound by two chains. A soldier was guarding him on each side, and two other soldiers were guarding the entrance to the jail. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 And the angel said, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." Peter did so, and the angel said, "Now put on your coat and follow me." 9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. 11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the leaders were hoping would happen.” 12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. [John Mark became a scribe for the apostles, and he wrote a gospel by interviewing others, as he likely did not travel with Jesus, but traveled some with Paul. And a bit with Peter?] 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter’s at the door!” 15 They said to her, “You’re imagining things.” But she kept insisting. And they said, “Maybe it’s his angel!” 16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left. [This James is a birth brother of Jesus, he became a leader in Jerusalem and wrote one of the New Testament letters.] 18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter! 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. After this, Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while. 20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, 21 and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public oration to the people. 22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!” 23 King James Version - And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory, and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. — Closer version to the original - “And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him in return for that he did not give the glory to God. And eaten by worms, he breathed his last. 24 Meanwhile God’s message continued to spread and grow.
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Very Brief Outline of Acts:
Jesus returns to where he was with the Father before his advent/visit (his brief first one).
The Holy Spirit/Presence of God is poured out on the believers who were in Jerusalem on the late Spring holy day of Pentecost. Peter speaks, there are 3000 new believers that day.
The good news message spreads, Peter is invited and goes to a Roman’s house and all believe. The first record of non Hebrew believers (besides likely some on Pentecost).
Persecution breaks out.. jail. stoning. Pharisee Saul leads the persecution, but on his way to Damascus with papers for arrests, Jesus makes himself seen but is so bright Paul falls to the ground and is blinded. After two days he is healed and is a believer, and soon is called Paul. He wrote many (to most) of the New Testament letters, but spent a few years (it seems to me) exclusively listening to the Lord. He established many ‘churches’ in what’s called three missionary journeys, and met and worked with Mark and Luke, and quite a few others. (Luke wrote this Book of Acts.) His fourth journey is to Rome to trial as a prisoner. There’s a shipwreck on the way.. He wrote many of his letters while in prison and under ‘house’ arrest.
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